Sleeping Beauty..revisiting..

 
 dversepoets.com's Open Link night

Rarely does one see a photo of a snow covered Sleeping Beauty unless 

copy-written or perhaps one personally snapped shot from near her in the Trout Lake 

valley below Mt. Adams in Washington State. I'm re-posting the poem I wrote in 2011 posted on my blog in it's beginning year.  I've added two photos with Sleeping Beauty in her winter glory as well as a sunset photo and a small general map to give you a more complete picture.  

People I grew up with and who still live near her are fortunate 

to know her and that part of our state that borders Oregon, known for it's lumber industry, fishing, hiking, huckleberries and green, almost storybook, scenic countryside above the Columbia River.

by klr  

  Her reclining silhouette looks up to heaven

draped in a gown of multi-hued greens,

she sleeps eternally above the golden valley

                                                                                                               
Hills of smoldering spruce form her breasts,

 new growth where her flowing lava hair

once was quarried.

Indian legend says she died of an aching heart

Gods fought for her pure love

yet she lived for no other than her young brave

The story tells how the volcanoes rumbled,

echoes of Romeo and Juliette,

immortal mountains made their true loves grave

Autumn turns her garb to silky rusts and golds,

 while hints of lime and magenta foliage

grow next to ebony bones

In winter she imparts warmth to those who eye her

A snowy princess in sweet repose

shy clouds cling to her feet

Springtime birds fly gladly all around

finding shelter in her terrain,

Rainbows often circle her throat

The sun and stars take turns

shining down upon her,

Her majesty can be seen for miles

Veils of mist breathe a faint sound

One senses a slight stirring motion

as she slumbers and smiles

 This is probably one of the earliest photos of her.  The Sleeping Beauty Trails and hikes take you up to an elevation of 4907 ft., are just part of the Cascade chain that runs from Alaska to Central America and beyond. Of the highest peaks on the map, we can brag about 4 ancient volcanoes, Mt. St. Helens being the most recently active.